Graduate certificates in the Michigan State University College of Education are non-degree-granting programs that provide students with a focused curriculum or set of courses to expand knowledge and understanding about a key topic.
Graduate Specializations
Graduate Specialization in K-12 English as a Second Language
The graduate specialization in K-12 English as a Second Language prepares educators to teach English as a Second Language at the elementary and/or secondary level. Practicing teachers learn to understand: present-day English with regards to grammar, phonology, lexicon and dialect; differences between first and second language acquisition, factors contributing to successful second language acquisition, and a variety of pedagogical and assessment techniques.
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- Coordinator: Peter DeCosta
- Coordinator Phone: (517) 432-7705
Graduate Specialization in Literacy and Language Instruction
The graduate specialization in Literacy and Language Instruction is designed for students who aspire to develop strong expertise in literacy and language instruction. The specialization is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in a master’s degree program and can prepare teachers for the reading or reading specialist endorsement.
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- Coordinator: Tanya Wright
- Coordinator Phone: (517) 432-4930
Economics of Education Specialization
The interdisciplinary specialization in Economics of Education is designed to provide doctoral students with advanced statistical training and understanding of the application of these methods to key educational topics, with particular emphasis on use of economic methods and theories.
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- Coordinator: Scott Imberman
- Coordinator Phone: (517) 355-4667
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Language and Literacy Education Specialization
The specialization in Language and Literacy Education is designed for doctoral students from three programs-Curriculum, Instruction and Teacher Education; Educational Psychology and Educational Technology; and Special Education-who aspire to be scholars, curriculum developers and policy leaders in literacy. The specialization focuses on literacy theory, research and education, helping students address issues of language and literacy development, use and instruction, literacy contexts of social, cultural and linguistic differences and the possibilities of transforming how people read, write, and take action in their worlds.
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- Coordinator: Tanya Wright
- Coordinator Phone: (517) 432-7705
See all MSU Graduate Specializations
Graduate Certificates
Applied Behavior Analysis Graduate Certificate
The graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) (a fully online program) prepares students to be behavior analysts in educational settings, and to develop and deliver educational and behavioral programming to children with autism, intellectual, and neurodevelopmental disabilities. Students will develop in-depth knowledge and applied competence in the delivery of behavior analysis to improve the quality of life of consumers in various service settings. Students who complete the graduate certificate will be eligible to take the examination to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.
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- Coordinator: Erin Hamilton
- Coordinator Phone: (517) 355-1837
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Children’s and Young Adult Literature Graduate Certificate
The graduate certificate in Childrenās and Young Adult Literature is designed to provide in-service elementary and secondary teachers with materials and methods for teaching international childrenās and young adult literature. The focus of the program is on multimodal texts, exploration of the kinds of conversations that surround pieces of literature, and whether those texts are written for children, adults, or both. The program aids understanding classics and award winners in childrenās and young adult literature by and about people and communities who have been and continue to be marginalized by and underrepresented in the school curriculum in the United States. The graduate certificate is available only online.
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- Coordinator: Laura Apol
- Coordinator Phone: (517) 432-7705
Educational Psychology Graduate Certificate
The graduate certificate in Educational Psychology provides educators and non-educators with knowledge and perspectives on learning and development. By understanding the psychological processes that underlie learning, as well as the practices that support these processes, the developmental mechanisms that lead to individual differences, and the impact of motivation, students will gain deeper insight into the needs of developing learners.
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- Program Director: Jennifer Schmidt
- Coordinator Phone: (517) 355-6683
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Educational Technology Graduate Certificate
The graduate certificate in Educational Technology (available fully online, summer hybrid, and summer overseas) prepareks educators who work in a range of educational settings to help students become powerful digital-age thinkers, makers, and problem solvers. Students acquire foundational knowledge and skills that transform thinking about how, why, and when to integrate a range of digital technologies to support student learning.
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- Coordinator: Brittany Dillman
- Coordinator Phone: (517) 432-4852
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Elementary STEM Education Graduate Certificate
The graduate certificate in Elementary STEM Education is designed to provide in-service elementary teachers with knowledge about student learning and engagement and instructional practices in STEM disciplines. The primary focus of the program is understanding inquiry-oriented practices across STEM disciplines. The graduate certificate is available only online.
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- Coordinator: Douglas Hartman
- Coordinator Phone: (517) 432-7705
English Language Learner Education Graduate Certificate
The graduate certificate in English Language Learner Education is for doctoral students who wish to gain a comprehensive understanding of the complexities in educating English Language Learners (ELLs). This includes the influence of the socio-historical, local, and policy contexts and the challenges of teaching learners with diverse levels of English proficiency and prior formal schooling experiences in both English as a second language and content-area classrooms.
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- Coordinator: Peter De Costa
- Coordinator Phone: (517) 432-7705
K-12 Computer Science Education Graduate Certificate
The graduate certificate in K-12 Computer Science Education prepares K-12 teachers to teach computational thinking to learners at the elementary and secondary levels. Domains include computational thinking, algorithmic thinking, breaking down complex problems, abstracting and generalizing principles to solve problems, and development of creative thinking. Teachers learn to teach these concepts and skills through culturally relevant pedagogy, attending to how culture and context impact student learning.
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- Coordinator: Brittany Dillman
- Coordinator Phone: (517) 432-4852
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Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS)
The graduate certificate in Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) is designed to prepare leaders who will find and enact educational and behavioral systems that support all students. Students will learn from renowned scholars in the field and will be able to take what they learn at MSU and directly apply it to work settings. Graduates will have the skills to respond to challenges in and provide systemic support for schools, teachers and education in the state and beyond. Now seeking pre-admission, contingent upon state approval.
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- Coordinator: Erin Hamilton
- Coordinator Phone: (517) 355-1837
Online Teaching and Learning Graduate Certificate
The graduate certificate in Online Teaching and Learning (a fully online program) prepares individuals to design and teach online courses. Students learn to apply the latest theories of learning and pedagogy in online learning environments. They also become more knowledgeable of multimedia and networking tools that support online instruction.
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- Coordinator: Brittany Dillman
- Coordinator Phone: (517) 432-4852
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Qualitative Research Methods
The graduate certificate in Qualitative Research Methods focuses on enhancing doctoral studentsā preparation and expertise in conceiving, designing, conducting, analyzing, and reporting qualitative research studies. The program also prepares students to teach introductory and advanced courses in qualitative research methods when assuming faculty positions.
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- Coordinator: Avner Segall
- Coordinator Phone: (517) 432-7705
Science Education Graduate Certificate
The graduate certificate in Science Education is for doctoral students who are interested in developing expertise in science education across and within a range of theoretical and methodological perspectives, including cognition, sociocultural, and feminist/critical perspectives along with both qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
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- Coordinator: Christina Schwarz
- Coordinator Phone: (517) 432-7705
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Sport Coaching and Leadership Graduate Certificate
The graduate certificate in Sport Coaching and Leadership develops disciplinary knowledge and skills to help students become more effective coaches and sport leaders at intercollegiate, interscholastic, and community levels. For teachers with an interest in coaching or sport leadership, this certificate is an ideal add-on to a masterās degree from the College of Education. As a stand-alone graduate certificate, it is ideal for coaches and sport leaders at any level that are looking to improve their sport science, coaching, and sport leadership knowledge.
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- Coordinator: Andrew Driska
- Coordinator Phone: (517) 432-8399
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Teaching and Learning in Postsecondary Education Graduate Certificate
The graduate certificate in Teaching and Learning in Postsecondary Education is designed to assist educators and practitioners from a variety of professional settings and disciplines who seek to enhance their understanding of teaching and learning issues for adult learners. Courses facilitate an overall understanding of learning in adulthood and what implications this knowledge holds for helping adults learn in postsecondary institutions, organizations, and in the broader society.
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- Coordinator: Matthew Wawrzynski
- Coordinator Phone: (517) 355-6617
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Urban Education Graduate Certificate
The graduate certificate in Urban Education is for masterās and doctoral students who aspire to understand and focus on issues relevant to urban school contexts, such as racial test score gaps; allocation of resources; contexts of social, cultural, and economic differences; urban disinvestment; and transforming how school leaders learn to better engage children and families in their school communities.
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- Co-Coordinator: Terah Venzant-Chambers
- Co-Coordinator: Terry Flennaugh
- Coordinator Phone: (517) 353-8480
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